From the Doctor’s Desk…

MPN is excited to introduce Arctic Wild™ into our family of condition specific formulas because essential fatty acids are truly essential to good health. The therapeutic value of EPA and DHA are firmly established within the scientific community via hundreds of clinical trails and studies. Arctic Wild™ has a higher concentration of the bioactive fatty acids EPA and DHA than other standard fish oils, making it possible for us to put a larger quantity of omega-3 oil into smaller capsules, which are easier to swallow, making patient compliance more plausible. The highest standards were used to manufacture this fish oil concentrate, so that it is free of potential toxins, it’s odorless and minimizes aftertaste, and is extremely stable, maintaining its potency for a longer shelf-life.

I have been asked why Mountain Peak Nutritionals decided to offer an EPA/DHA product. After all, everyone seems to offer a fish oil formula, and does it really fit in with our condition specific formula model? MPN’s original formula, Ultra High™ is not really a condition specific formula. However, in seeking optimal health for our patients, we realize the value and importance of offering a multivitamin-mineral formula as well as any formula that provides significant health benefits. MPN is willing to step outside of its condition specific formula model for the sake of good health. People are simply not getting the complete nutrition they need from food alone.

The vast majority of Americans who consume a traditional Western diet are not receiving the essential fatty acids our bodies require. Our bodies and minds evolved to use roughly equal parts omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The current overabundance of the omega-6 class has altered our internal physiology in ways we are just beginning to understand. By eating a traditional Western diet, we consume at least 20 times more omega-6s than omega-3s. Excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids can trigger many health perils associated with inflammation. The bright side is that excessive omega-6 fatty acids can be reversed, in most cases, through dietary changes and supplementation.

Hundreds of studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids combat a wide range of diseases: cancer, asthma, depression, cardiovascular disease, ADHD and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. “All of these diseases have a common genesis in inflammation,” according to Joseph C. Maroon, MD, professor and vice chairman of the Dept. of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Maroon is co-author of Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory, stating that in large enough amounts omega-3s reduce the inflammatory process that can lead to many chronic conditions.

Prior to the introduction of grains (such as crackers and cookies), fats (corn-fed beef) and artificial substances, the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in our diet was 2:1. Today, with the popularity of fast foods containing high levels of omega-6, the ratio has grown to 6:1. Populations maintaining a ratio of 1:1, omega-6 to omega-3, are protected from many of the scourges of the modern age. Researchers have found that the fish-eating inhabitants of a typical Japanese fishing village have extremely low rates of heart disease. Their blood tests reveal a biochemical signature for cardiac health, including high levels of protective HDL cholesterol, low levels of LDL cholesterol, low levels of triglyceride, and low levels of platelet aggregation, a risk factor for heart disease. Trends in major depression mirror those seen in cardiac disease: Where fish consumption is high, rates of depression are extremely low; nearly ten times lower than in the United States.

Fish and seafood naturally produce omega-3 fat, as it helps to keep their cell membranes flexible even when they inhabit very cold water. Omega-3 fatty acids can be derived from other sources as well. For instance, flaxseed oil is a good source of omega-3 but it must first be metabolized by the liver to create eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The necessary conversion process has been demonstrated to be very inefficient, even in healthy subjects. Therefore, it is considerably more effective to ingest EPA and DHA in the form of omega-3 fatty acids derived from fatty fish rather than from vegetable sources.

The cell membrane is also an electrical regulator, controlling the movement of charged ions such as sodium and potassium into and out of the cell. This lipid bilayer serves as a doorway to the cell, controlling the movement of molecules and information in an organized fashion. Lipid bilayers composed of proper amounts of omega-3 fatty acids appear to function best.

Acquiring the highest quality omega-3 fish oil supplement was a learning experience. Much investigation took place to determine the four critical aspects of quality in an omega-3 fish oil supplement:

Natural triglycerides from selected fish species normally contain a concentration of 10% to 30% omega-3 fatty acids. Arctic Wild™ contains Ropufa fish oil, a trade name containing sardines and anchovies, which has a higher concentration of omega-3 due to the conversion of natural triglycerides to ethyl esters. By distilling these ethyl esters, it produces fish oil with enriched EPA and DHA. This procedure can produce concentrates containing more than 60% EPA and DHA, and a total omega-3 content of up to 80%.

Typical omega-3 fish oils can cause reflux (burping), can have a fishy aftertaste and often come in large, hard to swallow capsules. Due to the proprietary and patented deodorization and stabilization technology, Ropufa fish oil has no fishy smell or taste. Arctic Wild™, with this superior stability, reaches the end of its shelf life with negligible EPA/DHA loss and only minimal oxidation.